Advocacy to Address Health Care Access and Affordability

In this Leadership Dialogue conversation, Marc Boom, M.D., president and CEO of Houston Methodist and the 2026 AHA board chair, speaks with Stacey Hughes, executive vice president of government and public policy at the American Hospital Association, about the forces shaping health care affordability — from federal budget concerns to patient access challenges. They discuss how hospitals and health systems can help not only inform but also shape policy, including by sharing real stories, real challenges and specific data.